1. ONEWORLDRELIGION >>
Baháí's Prepare
for Supernatural World Leader
By Jamie Brendan
tative of the Bahá’í International Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha,
“World government is their spir- Community to the United Nations, Krishna, Jesus, and Muhammad are
itual mandate.” gave his opening speech as the all equally authentic messengers of
It’s a radical statement, but there Millennium Forum’s Co-chair; that I one God.” Furthermore, each of
is a specific religious entity that is had seen the Bahá’ís in action before these religious figures and their vari-
literally seeking to create a “new – at World Federalist events, various ous messages are viewed as legitimate
world order” – both spiritually and interfaith gatherings, and at a pro-UN paths to salvation and are part of a
politically. Granted, it’s a bold man- education conference. But why? larger plan to “advance civilization.”
date, but this “independent religion” In order to understand the “why,” it This idea of advancing civilization is
firmly believes that it has the capabil- is essential to know the context of the integral to the Bahá’í faith. According
ity to usher in such a system. Yet, as Bahá’í religion. to their official website, the Bahá’í’s
tightly woven as this group is within The official website of the Bahá’í “central theme is that humanity is
the United Nations, it has largely Faith states, “We are Bahá’ís – mem- one single race and that the day has
gone unnoticed by political commen- bers of the Bahá’í Faith, the second come for its unification in one global
tators and researchers alike. In fact, most widespread of the world’s inde- society.” This message of unification
if it hadn’t been for my attendance pendent religions, established in 235 is clearly stated throughout Bahá’í
at one particular UN event, I too countries and territories throughout writings.
would have completely overlooked the world. We come from over 2,100 One such text, Bahá’í Teachings For
this major player. ethnic, racial, and tribal groups and The New World Order, released by the
In the spring of 2000, I had the number some 5 million worldwide.” U.S. National Spiritual Assembly of
opportunity of participating in the It’s a relatively young faith, emanat- the Bahá’ís, lists some of their key
United Nations Millennium Forum. It ing from the teaching of its founder, principles,
was during this event that I realized I Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892). Started in ● “The oneness of mankind,”
had been negligent in recognizing this ● “Universal peace upheld by a
important spiritual-political force, and world government,”
the only reason that I noticed it was ● “The common foundation of all
that this group was one of the most religions,”
visibly active at the conference – pro- ● “Universal compulsory educaion,”
viding media and communications and
outreach, database management, and Bahá’í Headquarters in Israel on ● “A spiritual solution to economic
direct administrative support to the Mt. Carmel problems.”
Forum’s Executive Committee. John Ferraby, author of the Bahá’í
At first I thought it was rather odd reference text All Things Made New,
that a relatively insignificant religious Iran, the “religious matrix of the stakes some equally significant
group would be so active at such an Bahá’í Faith was Islam,” and most claims:
important event. I could understand of its early supporters stemmed from “The unity which exists among
why the Franciscans International, a Muslim society, with a smaller mix of Bahá’ís resembles, but is stronger
Roman Catholic organization, would Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians. than, that of the early Christians and
hold the key positions it did – includ- Like the monotheistic faiths, the early Muslims; for the elements
ing having one of its members fill the Bahá’ís believe that “God is one.” united are more diverse. We live in a
role of Executive Secretary. But the However, the Bahá’í faith claims that peerless age when, for the first time
Bahá’ís? God “manifests His will to human- in the history of the human race,
It dawned on me when Techeste ity” through a series of messengers. mankind can be recognized as one.
Ahderom, the principle represen- Accordingly, “Bahá’ís believe that According to Bahá’u’lláh, the Divine
ENDTIME MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2004 25

2. >> ONEWORLDRELIGION
Plan of Creation requires the process the European Bahá’í Business Forum community. But make no mistake,
of unification to culminate at this (EBBF). The purpose: to apply “spir- the House of Justice and its support-
stage in human history; all that has itual principles to economic prob- ing institutions are concerned about
gone before has been leading to the lems.” Not surprisingly, the European more than just the Bahá’í Faith.
present age, in which the oneness of Commission is also partnering with In an article in One Country (July
mankind is to be realized in world EBBF, and in 2002 EBBF member 2000), the official publication of the
unity... We have entered a new era, Giuseppe Robiati was awarded the Bahá’í International Community,
in which the unification of mankind Chair for a New World Order at the Douglas Samimi-Moore, director of
can be adequately organized only by a University of Bari, Italy. the organization’s Office of Public
world state... Accordingly, the spirit of But it is in Israel where the Bahá’í Information, explained the deep-
unity released by Bahá’u’lláh is more International Community has its er significance behind this Mount
intense than any released in former sights. At Mount Carmel in Haifa, Carmel complex:
ages. Its first fruits are visible in the the location where the prophet Elijah “Our scriptures tell us that the
Bahá’í Community today; tomorrow had his showdown with the proph- very construction of these facilities
its spiritual power will overwhelm ets of Baal (I Kings for housing these institu-
mankind.” 18), an elaborate tions will coincide with
This explains why Bahá’í represen- 19 step succession several other processes in
tatives can be found participating in of terraced gardens the world. One of these
so many major United Nations, inter- forms a nearly one processes is the matura-
faith, and global governance events; kilometer swath tion of local and national
world unification, indeed, world gov- up the north side Bahá’í institutions. The
Techeste Ahderom
ernment, is their spiritual mandate. of the Mount. In other is the establishment
Obviously, the Bahá’í Community the center of this of processes leading to
has been active in this endeavor far lavish setting sits the Shrine of the political peace for humanity…”
beyond what I had witnessed at the Báb – a golden domed mausoleum Emphasizing this global unifica-
UN Millennium Forum. In 1945, structure containing the remains of tion of politics and religion, Samimi-
Bahá’í representatives were at the offi- the Báb, the spiritual forerunner to Moore restated this central theme by
cial founding of the United Nations Bahá’u’lláh. adding that the “Bahá’ís have gone
in San Francisco, and in 1947 they But why Haifa? A year before his about building these structures from
were formally recognized by the UN death, Bahá’u’lláh traveled to Mount a spiritual motivation…They believe
Department of Public Information. Carmel where he revealed a tab- these new structures will contribute
Since then, they have been given spe- let “designating Mount Carmel as to the unification of the planet.”
cial consultative status with the UN the site of the Faith’s spiritual and Interesting; a spiritual mandate to
Economic and Social Council and the administrative center” (One Country, create a world government, a lavish
United Nations Children’s Fund, and July/September 2000). Hence, since international headquarters complex
now have tight ties with other leading the mid-1950s, Haifa has become – including a Universal House of
UN agencies and sub-groups. the principle location for the Bahá’ís Justice – at Mount Carmel, special
More recently, the Bahá’í global unification work. ties to the United Nations, and an
International Community – the offi- Currently, the Mount Carmel loca- interfaith agenda centered on global
cial political arm of the Bahá’í Faith tion houses a number of massive unification. But why? John Ferraby
– participated at the UN World Bahá’í administrative structures, makes this clear:
Summit on Sustainable Development, including the International Archives “Before the appearance of the next
the Millennium World Peace Summit, building and the International Manifestation of God, His New
the UN World Conference Against Teaching Center. Also at this loca- World Order will be formed.” It’s
Racism, the UN Special Session on tion is the Center for the Study of the the final act, the final step, in the
Children, and at the World Summit Texts, an institution for Bahá’í schol- Bahá’ís international mandate – the
on the Information Society. And ars and sacred documents. All of emergence of a supernaturally charged
in Turin, Italy, the home of the these institutions work hand-in-glove world leader. e
United Nations International Labour with the Seat of the Universal House
Organization, a special relationship of Justice, the “supreme institution” Jamie Brendan is author of the new book,
has developed between the ILO and and governance body of the Bahá’í The Power Puzzle. See page 21 for details.
26 ENDTIME MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2004